Deleting RAW Files???

Marc

Marc

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I have a slight problem in that both my external hard drives are nearly full. One is a back up for the other, so I would have to buy two new ones to carry on as I am and I would then have the same problem in 6 months time. I don't really want to end up with a row of hard drives on my desk, let alone the cost so I am considering deleting the RAW files.

When I shoot a Polo Tournament, I take on average 500 shots and end up with approximately 12gb of data for each, including the subsequent jpegs. So the question is, should I delete the RAW files given that I have already submitted the jpegs to the club? Should I continue to fork out for External hard drives? Should I put the RAW files on loads of DVDs? What would you do? :help:

Cheers.
 
delete the jpegs and possibly look at a file server with raid.
 
It's a bit like a big external PC that you can add hard drives to as you go along. The advantage is when you need extra space you only pay for the hard drive, not all the external case/software etc. And if connected through your router, can be accessible from anywhere in the world through an internet PC online.

eg, the last drive I bought was a 500GB sata and it was £40.

They can also be configured to auto back up. A bit of expense at the start but in your case might bre worth it in the long run.

Do a google on raid systems and how they work.
 
It can be a bit of a ball ache, but I save the RAW files on to DVD and keep them in a big CD wallet.

The other thing I do these days came from a comment someone made on this site and is so true. I think it was Techno Geek. He said that: If you think the shot is a dog, its a dog. If you think the shot is OK, it's a dog. If you think it's very good, it's probably OK. If you think it's the best shot you've ever taken it's probably quite good.

So I'm ruthless with what I delete. I don't keep pictures that I know in my heart I'll never ever use for anything. I proved this to be right over the years by the thousands and thousands of negatives and trannies I've got in the loft that I haven't looked at since the day I processed them.

So delete, delete, delete and save only your really good stuff.
 
If you do delete the Raw files, I would burn them to a couple of Dvd's first so at least you would still have a copy.
 
Whilst it's easy to say delete you have to consider the future and any regrets which may flourish over time. I have photos/negatives taken maybe 30+ years ago which could easily have been tossed at the time. They are totally nondescript insignificant pictures, but now they mean a lot because they are fragments of a time gone by that help support fading memories. Pictures of people who are now dead, and those who have none now want copies. Silly little things like a corner of my bedroom as a teenager, part of the garden where I grew up, a slightly fuzzy pic of my first motorbike, and more. And I wish I had taken a lot more.

As for raw files, some I processed in to jpgs 4 years ago I have revisited with newer software and more experience and made a better job of them. But don't think I keep every one. I, like many of us, make an initial cull and delete the crap. And if what you shoot has no personal connection to you then it's easier to clear out more. Put them on to dvd, and when it becomes more affordable, bluray. Personally I back up to both hard drive and dvd.
 
fabs said:
Cheers for the replies. A lot to think of here. Due to the sheer volume, I'm not keen on deleting the jpegs. Am leaning towards DVDs now.
Click to expand...

I use Delkin Gold Archival Quality DVDs.

Anthony.
 
fabs said:
Cheers for the replies. A lot to think of here. Due to the sheer volume, I'm not keen on deleting the jpegs. Am leaning towards DVDs now.
Click to expand...

Go on - delete the JPGs, you can always reproduce them from the RAW files - and probably 10x better that what you have from the box :naughty:
 
totalfusion said:
Go on - delete the JPGs, you can always reproduce them from the RAW files - and probably 10x better that what you have from the box :naughty:
Click to expand...

The problem is that it's the RAW files which are taking up the space. For example the files from one shoot add up to 12gb. If I deleted the jpegs, I'd still have 11.2gb left so I wouldn't be saving anywhere near as much space as I need to.
 
I too am looking back at old raws these days and with better processing skills am doing better things to them.
Its fun.. and with long winter evenings and not so much time to go out shooting it is great.

I'd NEVER throw RAWS (although a good bit of judicial pruning never goes amiss!)

Throw the jpgs and you can get them back via the raws any time. :thumbs:
 
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